CPU Temp.

[HotDamn!]

I've been getting some high temps after my upgrade..

Before I upgraded a couple of things my temp would idle at about 75F-80F and 85F-98F while gaming (never reached 100F)

Now right when the computer turns on the temp is right around 90F and gets up to about 100F after just browsing the web and listening to music and stuff, and the gaming temp is about 102F-104F..

I know these temps aren't crazy and too dangerous but I just want it to be as cool as it was or possibly close to what it was for the longevity of my CPU.

I pasted the CPU by just a spec in the middle and pressing the heat sink on it to spread it which is recommended by some but I had these temps so I did it the way I usually do it which is spreading it across the CPU. It's only been about 3 days since then so I hope I'm not getting worried too soon.. I think it should be dry by now??

Specs before upgrade:
Processor: AMD Athlon(tm) II X4 630 Processor (4 CPUs), ~2.8GHz
Memory: 3094MB RAM
Hard Drive: 200 GB
Motherboard: ASRock K10N78 NVIDIA GeFoce 8200 Chipset
Video Card: NVIDIA GeFoce 8200 (on-board)
Operating System: Windows XP Professional x32 Edition Service Pack 3

Specs after upgrade:
Processor: AMD Athlon(tm) II X4 630 Processor (4 CPUs), ~2.8GHz
Memory: 4094MB RAM
Hard Drive: 200 GB
Motherboard: ASRock K10N78 NVIDIA GeFoce 8200 Chipset
Video Card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 260
Operating System: Windows XP Professional x64 Edition Service Pack 2

So with the upgrade I switched to 64-bit and it picked up the rest of my RAM, I put in a GTX 260 GPU, and before I used some $3 thermal paste I got from DIT Computers but this time I used some Arctic Silver which I hope would work better.. Also, I put the paste on just a tad more thick than the last time. The last time I put it on to wear I can see the CPU through the past and this time I didn't...hmm

So any ideas?? thanks for any help

[redwudz]

I really wouldn't be concerned. Those temps are still fairly low. Unless you used way to much thermal compound it should be fine like that. With that new video card your case temps may have went up a little and that could cause a rise in CPU temp.

[HotDamn!]

I really wouldn't be concerned. Those temps are still fairly low. Unless you used way to much thermal compound it should be fine like that. With that new video card your case temps may have went up a little and that could cause a rise in CPU temp.

ok, thank you

What temps do you think should concern me for my CPU? and also does a 64bit OS put more stress on the CPU?

[redwudz]

120F (~50C) would start to bother me. 140F (60C) would be boarderline. 70C (~160F) would be too hot most times. The Northbridge chip on your motherboard probably runs about 120F. Your video card GPU probably about the same or a bit higher. Sustained CPU temps above 160F could damage the thermal compound, but the CPU would likely be OK. But I wouldn't run one up there for long. 175F (80C) I would expect some long term damage to the CPU. In general, the higher the CPU wattage, the more heat it puts out.

I'm not sure how much your gaming stresses the CPU, but you could try running Graysky's video benchmark and a temp monitoring program like HWMonitor at the same time.

H264 Benchmark: https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/286517-HD-x264-CPU-benchmark-compare-different-CPUs...-the-same-file

HWMonitor: http://www.cpuid.com/hwmonitor.php

That should stress all cores to 100% for a few minutes. You also want to watch how fast the temps drop when the load is removed as that gives you some idea of your cooler efficiency and how well your case cooling is working. I think both of those programs will run on a 64bit machine. You could also use Prime95, but that may make the CPU run very hot.

Just guessing here, but running a 64bit OS shouldn't have much, if any, effect on temps, but I've never checked them when I tried 64bit OSs.

I overclock my Intel Q9550 from 2.83Ghz to 3.4Ghz and it runs about 120F (~49C) for about six hours at 100% CPU on all cores during a MKV encode and that's not a problem. I have pulled the cooler to use a better thermal compound (Artic Silver) and the compound on there (Factory compound) was not dried out. I run the six hour encodes several times a week, usually overnight.

[HotDamn!]

I'll run some test's. Thanks for your help!!!

[budz]

Artic sliver has to cure as well. IMHO use MX-2 or MX-3 thermal paste. What cpu cooler are you using?

[HotDamn!]

Here's the cooler: http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Thermaltake+-+120mm+CPU+Cooling+Fan/8990489.p?id=121800708...&skuId=8990489

I was playing a game and the temp went up to about 125F so I was going to clean the CPU and cooler off and put a more thin layer of thermal paste on to see if that helps any.

I was really tempted to use the MX-3 but I got a good deal for two tubes of the AS

[budz]

IMHO Artic Silver is old skool now & requires cure time but MX-2 & MX-3 doesn't. You could reset the cpu again and see what happens.
If you're interested svc.com has the MX-2 & MX-3 with free shipping. Acks! The MX-2 is out of stock at svc.com but sidewindercomputers.com has it in stock.

http://www.svc.com/thermal-compound.html

http://www.sidewindercomputers.com/arcomxthco.html

OT: I'm buying the same AMD Propus 630 cpu but with a Gigabyte UD2H mobo & 4gb DDR3 GSkill 1600 ram in a few weeks. I already got the CM Hyper 212 Plus cpu cooler from Amazon.

[HotDamn!]

You really can't go wrong with this CPU, good buy. It did run much cooler so I'm going to re-paste right after typing this and I'll update the thread in the morning.

I will for sure get the MX but which is better?? or what are the differences between the two?

[budz]

The MX-2 is easier to spread compared to the MX-3.
I just used MX-3 on my Intel Wolfdale E8400 since I used the crappy stock intel cpu cooler.
I'm not overclocking it since it's now housed in a micro atx case. I didn't wanna spend money on buying a low profile cpu cooler. I'm very happy with the cpu temp at 24c idle and 43c at full load.

I'll be using MX-3 on the AMD Propus 630 Quad with the CM Hyper 212 Plus cpu cooler. I'm going to add a second fan to the CM cpu cooler too.

[lacywest]

During the summer time ... my main system is in the garage ... no cooling system in the garage ... hot outside ... hot inside the garage.

My PC was running ... not very often ... had to wait til the sun went down ... I had it set to shut down if the CPU reached 140 degrees ... crap ... it did shut down.

I had to go into the Bios and change the multiplier ... CPU ?? .... AMD X2 5800 .... couldn't get it to run at 3GZ ... had to slow it down alot to be able to use it in the garage.

I've bought a new CPU and it is still in the box ... this one is rated at 65watts ... its a AM3 design.

[SLK001]

I would say that there is something wrong with your temp measuring program if it only shows 100F while running. Just turning the machine on, it should be higher than that.

120-130F should be a normal range. 150F+ should be in the warning range. At 175F, you CPU should shut down to protect itself.

[HotDamn!]

I would say that there is something wrong with your temp measuring program if it only shows 100F while running. Just turning the machine on, it should be higher than that.

120-130F should be a normal range. 150F+ should be in the warning range. At 175F, you CPU should shut down to protect itself.

I use ASRock OC Tuner, don't really see how it could be a failure on its part.. I've had the same temps before my upgrade after every reformat I've done and I did a few. I keep the side panel off my case and my PC is in my basement where it is nice and cool most of the time.

Now that I upgraded I do believe that the GPU is putting off a lot of heat and so is the 700 watt PS and also it's a little more cramped in the case, well ok, a lot more cramped... this is a big graphics card.

I'll post back as soon as my paste has some time to cure but I'm sure it's going to have the same results do to the added stuff.

[HotDamn!]

The MX-2 is easier to spread compared to the MX-3.
I just used MX-3 on my Intel Wolfdale E8400 since I used the crappy stock intel cpu cooler.
I'm not overclocking it since it's now housed in a micro atx case. I didn't wanna spend money on buying a low profile cpu cooler. I'm very happy with the cpu temp at 24c idle and 43c at full load.

I'll be using MX-3 on the AMD Propus 630 Quad with the CM Hyper 212 Plus cpu cooler. I'm going to add a second fan to the CM cpu cooler too.

Being able to add two fans is making me want to get that cooler of yours

When I get my new board maybe I'll go with that one and I'll put the one I have back on my dual core that way I can OC it.

[budz]

^^^How's the temps after resetting it?

[HotDamn!]

^^^How's the temps after resetting it?

It actually is a few degrees cooler with less paste but still up there which doesn't surprise me. I mounted my fan the other way around because it was blowing more air up so now it's blowing it right down on my graphics card and even right on my hard drive. Not sure why I didn't do that earlier

I'll let it warm up some more and try to give some more info so we all can know if smashing the heat sink to the CPU with paste is best or if spreading a very thin amount it best.. So far it seems spreading it it best

Start up yesterday: 85F-90F
Start up today: 80F

No big difference yet

[Nelson37]

If your temps are barely above room temperature more than a few seconds after startup, and assuming these are CPU temps rather than case or board temps, then I would agree with SLK that something may be wrong with the monitoring software or probe.

If you don't understand how this could fail, that is OK. You just need to be aware that YES, ABSOLUTELY they can fail. In fact, with the temps you are seeing, either the software or sensor is bad, or you are reading the wrong value. CPU's just don't stay that cool.

Oh, and you left the 700Watt PSU off the upgrade list. That, plus the card, will certainly raise all temps somewhat. What you are seeing is not at all unusual, not a problem, and not something to be concerned about.

Also, the thin layer of paste is the way to go. While thermally conductive, it's not as good as metal and its' main function is to allow for very fine surface irregularities, so that there is no CPU surface-to-air contact.

[SLK001]

I'm not saying that there is anything wrong with your system (except the monitoring), but a quad core CPU running at 2.8GHz will NOT run at room temp, even at idle. You should be seeing temps around 35-40C (95-105F) at idle even with 100% efficient cooling.

[HotDamn!]

Hmmm. Anything to do with switching from 32bit to 64bit? Or maybe it fixed itself and now I'm getting the right temps now

[budz]

If you're getting better temps now then the resetting of the cpu and hsf may have fixed the problem. What software are you using to verify the cpu temps?

[HotDamn!]

My mobo disc came with ASRock OC Tuner. It's a pretty nice one.

Here's my mobo, you may be able to find some info on the tuner if you want
http://www.asrock.com/mb/overview.asp?Model=K10N78

[budz]

Try using real temp, hardware monitor or core temp to monitor your cpu temps.

[HotDamn!]

Try using real temp, hardware monitor or core temp to monitor your cpu temps.

I like the "Core Temp" program. I tried this one first because the others said they are compatible with Intel chips and this one said both so I don't think there's any need to try another.

It's reading my temps in F because that's what I set it too and how I like to read it so here's a screen shot.


Any pointers on using this program would be great but I do like it so far. Thanks budz

I feel a little more comfortable since the temps are what they use to be with this program. I'm hoping I'm reading it right. But like I said, any help with knowing how to read it and adjust the settings would be great.

[budz]

Try using real temp which is for 45nm cpu's. I believe the AMD 630 Propus is 45nm. I'm curious to see if you'll get the same temp readings as core temp.

[HotDamn!]

I couldn't get Real Temp to work with my processor but the i7 booster would load but didn't really tell me anything at all. The readings for both HW monitor and Core Temp seem to be very close but of course the temps go up and down just a bit depending on what I'm doing.

(I don't have a current screen shot program. Here's a log I saved)

Hardware monitor AMD Athlon II X4 630
Temperature 0 23°C (73°F) [0xB9] (Core #0)
Temperature 1 23°C (73°F) [0xB9] (Core #1)
Temperature 2 23°C (73°F) [0xB8] (Core #2)
Temperature 3 23°C (73°F) [0xB8] (Core #3)

Hardware monitor NVIDIA GeForce GTX 260
Temperature 0 43°C (109°F) (GPU Core)

Hardware monitor SAMSUNG SP2004C
Temperature 0 27°C (80°F) [0x1B] (Assembly)
Temperature 2 27°C (80°F) [0x1B] (Air Flow)

ps I like the screen shot app available for the Core Temp program. I think I'll keep both programs though

[budz]

Those temps look fine in hardware monitor.

[HotDamn!]

Those temps look fine in hardware monitor.

I appreciate your help and the program suggestions. I may try to reinstall the ASRock OC Tuner to see if it does anything. I hope my mobo isn't giving up on me

I do plan on getting a new Asus or Gigabyte but would still loved to have a spare.

[budz]

It's my understanding that Asrock is part of Asus. I used to buy only Asus but then their quality control went downhill. I switched to Gigabyte when Intel 775 sockets began and I've never looked back at Asus. I haven't been disappointed with the Gigabyte motherboards yet.

[redwudz]

(I don't have a current screen shot program. Here's a log I saved)

You always have the PRTSCRN key on the keyboard. That's all I ever use. Then Open 'Paint' and 'Paste' it there, edit and save as JPEG to upload to our site.

But those temps look good. I haven't found two monitoring programs that give the same readings, but I go by the temp difference between no load and full load to determine if the cooling is working correctly.

[HotDamn!]

(I don't have a current screen shot program. Here's a log I saved)

You always have the PRTSCRN key on the keyboard. That's all I ever use. Then Open 'Paint' and 'Paste' it there, edit and save as JPEG to upload to our site.

But those temps look good. I haven't found two monitoring programs that give the same readings, but I go by the temp difference between no load and full load to determine if the cooling is working correctly.



[Attachment 757 - Click to enlarge]

I will keep that in mind. I can't believe I've never used that key before Thanks!